Insole with an adjustable arch support structure

ABSTRACT

An insole with an adjustable arch support structure comprises a middle sole and a support sole. The middle sole includes a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface is formed with an arch portion, the middle sole is provided at the arch portion with a support portion formed in the shape of the arch of a user&#39;s foot and a lateral support portion located adjacent to the support portion. The bottom surface of the middle sole is formed with a buffer chamber which is concaved toward the support portion, and the lower edge of the lateral support portion is formed with a lateral support edge which is located around a periphery of the buffer chamber. The support sole is received in the buffer chamber of the middle sole and includes a top surface and a bottom surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an insole, and more particularly to an insole with an adjustable arch support structure.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A human foot includes the front part of the foot, the arch portion, and the heel portion. The foot arch provides support shock absorbency, so that the load can be spread out from the anklebone to the front part and the heel of the foot, making us stand more stably.

Due to the foot arch provides shock absorbency and spreads out the load, the lower limb muscles are likely to fatigue if there is no appropriate buffer to support the arch of the foot. To solve this problem, the arch portion of he conventional soles is heightened to provide a better support for the arch of the foot. However, the heightened arch portion is fixed in height, which is not suitable for different feet that have different heights. Therefore, another conventional sole 10 was made as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and comprises: a front portion 11, an arch portion 12 and a heel portion 13. The arch portion 12 is a projected structure formed in the shape of the arch of the foot, below the arch portion 12 is a laterally open cavity 14 in which is received a support block 15 with an arc-shaped slanting top surface 150, so that the height of the arch portion 12 can be changed by inserting support blocks 15 of different thicknesses.

However, the support block 15 has a slanting top surface 150, when the user stands on the arch portion 12, a vertical load F will be applied to the slanting top surface 150, and the slanting top surface 150 will produce a component force in the lateral direction to push the support block 15 toward the opening of the cavity 14. Hence, the support block 15 is likely to be pushed out of the cavity 14 by the component force in the lateral direction after a certain time of use.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an insole whose arch support structure is adjustable in height to fit different feet with different arch heights.

To achieve the above object, an insole with an adjustable arch support structure in accordance with the present invention comprises a middle sole and a support sole. The middle sole includes a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface is formed with an arch portion, the middle sole is provided at the arch portion with a support portion formed in the shape of the arch of a user's foot and a lateral support portion located adjacent to the support portion. The bottom surface of the middle sole is formed with a buffer chamber which is concaved toward the support portion, and the lower edge of the lateral support portion is formed with a lateral support edge which is located around a periphery of the buffer chamber. The support sole is received in the buffer chamber of the middle sole and includes a top surface and a bottom surface.

The thickness of the support sole can be larger than the depth of the buffer chamber of the middle sole in order to improve the support force of the support portion of the insole, or the thickness of the support sole can be smaller than the depth of the buffer chamber of the middle sole in order to improve the elasticity of the support portion of the insole, and the thickness of the support sole can be equal to the depth of the buffer chamber of the middle sole so as to provide an appropriate support and elasticity to the support portion of the insole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of a conventional insole;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an insole with an adjustable arch support structure in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the insole with an adjustable arch support structure in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the insole with an adjustable arch support structure in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the insole with an adjustable arch support structure in accordance with the present invention, wherein the buffer chamber and the support sole have not deformed;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the insole with an adjustable arch support structure in accordance with the present invention, wherein the buffer chamber and the support sole are being deformed;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the insole with an adjustable arch support structure in accordance with the present invention, wherein the buffer chamber and the support sole have deformed; and

FIG. 9 is an illustrative view illustrating that support soles of different heights are received in the buffer chamber of the insole with an adjustable arch support structure in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be clearer from the following description when viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, an insole with an adjustable arch support structure in accordance with the present invention essentially comprises: a middle sole 20 and a support sole 30. The middle sole 20 includes a top surface 201 and a bottom surface 202. The top surface 201 is formed with a front portion 21, an arch portion 22, a heel portion 23, and a lateral support portion 24 which is located adjacent to the arch portion 22 and extends laterally toward the inner edge of the user's foot A.

The middle sole 20 is provided at the arch portion 22 with a support portion 221 formed in the shape of the arch of the foot A. The bottom surface 202 of the middle sole 20 is formed with a buffer chamber 25 which is concaved toward the support portion 221. The buffer chamber 25 has a depth h of 5-13 mm. The lower edge of the lateral support portion 24 is formed with a lateral support edge 240 which is located around the periphery of the buffer chamber 25, and the lateral support edge 240 is elastic and thinner than the rest part of the periphery of the buffer chamber 25.

The support sole 30 is received in the buffer chamber 25 of the middle sole 20 and includes a projecting arch-shaped top surface 301 and a flat bottom surface 302, as shown in FIG. 6. The maximum thickness of the support sole 30 from the bottom surface 302 to the top surface 301 is H. The top surface 301 has different heights with respect to the bottom surface 302 since it is a two dimensional arch-shaped structure which is thick in the center and gradually tapers down to a thin outer edge, so as to make the arch portion 22 of the middle sole 20 have different heights to meet the demands of different users with different arch heights.

When the user's foot A stands on the top surface 201 of the middle sole 20, a vertical load F will be applied to the top surface 201 of the middle sole 20, as shown in FIG. 6, since the support sole 30 is vertically (the buffer chamber 25 opens vertically downward) disposed in the buffer chamber 25, the vertical load F will be transmitted to the bottom surface 302 of the support sole 30 without producing any component force. As shown in FIG. 7, the support sole 30 supports the support portion 221, when the vertical load F is big, the support sole 30 deforms, and the lateral support edge 240 also deforms to satisfy different feet with different arch heights, as shown in FIG. 8.

Referring then to FIG. 9, the maximum thickness H of the support sole 30 from the bottom surface 302 to the top surface 301 can be designed to be smaller or larger than or equal to the depth h of the buffer chamber 25, for example, the support sole 30 can have a thickness H1 smaller than the depth h of the buffer chamber 25, or have a thickness H2 which is equal to the depth h of the buffer chamber 25 or have a thickness H3 which is greater than the depth h of the buffer chamber 25. The proportion of the thickness H of the support sole 30 to the depth h of the buffer chamber 25 of the middle sole 20 ranges from 0.05-1.8. The top surface 301 of the support sole 30 is closely abutted against the bottom of the buffer chamber 25, so that when support soles 30 of different thicknesses are received in the buffer chamber 25, the bottom surface 302 of the support sole 30 can be retracted into or flush with or slightly projected out of the opening of the buffer chamber 25. When a vertical load F is applied to the support sole 30, the support sole 30 will deform in the vertical direction (in which the vertical load F is applied) without producing any lateral component force.

The depth h of the buffer chamber 25 which is 5-13 mm cooperates with the thickness H of the support sole 30 which is 1-18 mm to make the height of the arch portion 22 range from 5 to 27 mm, so as to satisfy different feet with different arch heights. Therefore, when the thickness of the support sole 30 is H1 which is smaller than the depth h, the portion of H1 to h is: 0.05-0.9, when the thickness of the support sole 30 is H2 which is equal to the depth h, the portion of H1 to h is: 0.85-1.15, and when the thickness of the support sole 30 is H3 which is larger than the depth h, the portion of H1 to h is: 1.06-1.8.

The proportion of the height H to the width of the support sole 30 ranges from 0.075 to 0.56.

A fixing device 40 can be disposed between the support sole 30 and the buffer chamber 25 to improve the fixing force therebetween. The buffer chamber 25 is formed in the center thereof with a groove 250, and the top surface 301 of the support sole 30 is also formed with a groove 31, so that the fixing device 40 is received in a space defined by the grooves 250, 31. The fixing device 40 is a hook and loop tape and consists of a male tape 41 and a female tape 42 which are received in the grooves 250 and 31, respectively, so that the top surface 301 of the support sole 30 can be surely abutted against the inner surface of the buffer chamber 25.

To summarize, an insole with an adjustable arch support structure in accordance with the present invention utilizes the support sole 30 and the buffer chamber 25 of the middle sole 20 to adjust the support force and elasticity of the insole. The elasticity of the support sole 30 can further adjust the arch structure of the insole to satisfy different feet with different arch heights.

While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. An insole with an adjustable arch support structure, comprising a middle sole and a support sole: the middle sole including a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface being formed with an arch portion, the middle sole being provided at the arch portion with a support portion formed in the shape of the arch of a user's foot and a lateral support portion located adjacent to the support portion, the bottom surface of the middle sole being formed with a buffer chamber which is concaved toward the support portion, the lower edge of the lateral support portion being formed with a lateral support edge which is located around a periphery of the buffer chamber; the support sole being received in the buffer chamber of the middle sole and including a top surface and a bottom surface; when a user's foot stands on the top surface of the middle sole, a vertical load will be applied to the support portion and transmitted to the support sole via the buffer chamber, causing the support sole to deform in a vertical direction.
 2. The insole with an adjustable arch support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buffer chamber of the middle sole has a depth of 5-13 mm.
 3. The insole with an adjustable arch support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support sole has a thickness of 1-18 mm.
 4. The insole with an adjustable arch support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support sole is elastic, and a proportion of a thickness of the support sole to a depth of the buffer chamber of the middle sole ranges from 0.05-1.8.
 5. The insole with an adjustable arch support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein when a thickness of the support sole is smaller than a depth of the buffer chamber of the middle sole, a proportion of the thickness of the support sole to the depth of the buffer chamber of the middle sole ranges is: 0.05-0.9, when the thickness of the support sole is equal to the depth of the buffer chamber of the middle sole, the proportion of the thickness of the support sole to the depth of the buffer chamber of the middle sole ranges is: 0.85-1.15, and when the thickness of the support sole is greater than a depth of the buffer chamber of the middle sole, the proportion of the thickness of the support sole to the depth of the buffer chamber of the middle sole is: 1.06-1.8.
 6. The insole with an adjustable arch support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a proportion of a height to a width of the support sole ranges from 0.075 to 0.56.
 7. The insole with an adjustable arch support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support sole is elastic.
 8. The insole with an adjustable arch support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lateral support edge is formed at a lower edge of the support portion and thinner than the rest part of the periphery of the buffer chamber.
 9. The insole with an adjustable arch support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buffer chamber is formed in a center thereof with a groove, and the top surface of the support sole is also formed with a groove, a fixing device which is a hook and loop tape and consists of a male tape and a female tape which are received in the grooves of the buffer chamber and the support sole, respectively, to enable the top surface of the support sole to be surely abutted against an inner surface of the buffer chamber.
 10. The insole with an adjustable arch support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top surface is a two dimensional arch-shaped structure. 